Keys View

Followed the recommendation from staff at the visitors center and came here first. So amazing! You can see Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and the Saltan Sea. Beautiful vista. So warm and peaceful. Can't wait to bring the rest of the family!

Keys View is a must-visit spot if you’re going to Joshua Tree National Park. Located at a higher elevation, it offers a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view, allowing you to look down over the vast Joshua Tree landscape from above. For photography lovers, this is an ideal place to capture truly memorable shots—the kind of view that easily becomes a favorite photo. While I didn’t visit at night, many people say it’s also a popular spot for stargazing and viewing the Milky Way after dark. I highly recommend stopping here to take in the open, refreshing scenery and enjoy a view that really makes you feel like your chest has opened up with fresh air and space.

Unfortunately they closed the road to Keys View and redirected the traffic with no explanations. I’ve seen the view before and I can say it’s beautiful. My only advice is, if you don’t find desert environment fascinating and enjoyable Joshua national park is not for you because it looks just like other deserts around the freeway with some rock formations around the roads. And waiting in line in your car for 45 minutes and paying $30 entrance fee adds to the insult. But if you love the quiet and serenity of deserts, you’ll enjoy hiking every trail of the park.

Be sure to catch a sunrise view, its spectacular at Keys view!! Their is a toilet up there, cell service at the top of the loop lookout point. Great view of the Salton Sea, San Jacinto and beyond. Parking can be full on the weekends, do not recommend if your pulling a trailer.

We visited Keys View during our trip, but unfortunately the area was completely covered in thick fog. Because of this, we couldn’t see anything at all from the viewpoint, which was very disappointing since we were really looking forward to the panoramic desert views. That said, the place itself was well maintained and easy to access, and the quiet, foggy atmosphere felt calm and mysterious in its own way. I would recommend checking the weather and visibility conditions carefully before visiting, as the experience can change completely depending on the day.

This is a beautiful view! Who would have thought a faut line could make such scenery. The distance you can see from here is amazing, wish it was a clearer day when I went. I would recommend adding time to stop by the abandoned gold mine on lost horse trail on the way also If you can.

Driving to Keys View from the Hidden Valley picnic area was wonderful! The Joshua trees seemed very dense along this scenic road, making for a beautiful journey. Keys View is a truly beautiful elevation, offering great views of the mountains, the tectonic plate fault line, and the riverbed. Be prepared for it to be very windy up there! You could quickly visit all the main points in about 15 minutes of walking/viewing time, plus the drive time. This is a must-visit place inside Joshua Tree National Park.

I arrived there at sunset (almost), such nice view and cold!